FIRST SERVE
Three weeks. Six matches. And the Portland State volleyball team has everything to play for.
 
The next two Thursdays take on extra importance for the Vikings, who remain in the hunt for a Big Sky tournament spot. Eight teams make the conference tournament, and the Vikings would be in the tournament if the season ended today as they currently stand tied for seventh with Southern Utah at 5-7 in Big Sky play. The Vikings face the Thunderbirds Thursday with the chance to move ahead of SUU in the standings and secure the tiebreaker over the Thunderbirds with a win.
 
A win over Southern Utah would also keep the Vikings ahead of the three teams tied for last at 3-9 in the Big Sky. The Vikings play one of those three teams – Idaho State – at home next Thursday, when another win could greatly bolster the Vikings' tournament hopes.
 
Before the Vikings get a week ahead of themselves, however, they first have to face a difficult road trip against Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. The Vikings have never swept the road trip since Southern Utah joined the Big Sky Conference before the 2012 season. Additionally, the Vikings haven't won in Flagstaff since Nov. 5, 2011, having lost seven road matches in a row to NAU.
 
Still, if the Vikings cane take heart from anything, it's the back-to-back thrillers they played against Southern Utah and Northern Arizona at home earlier this season. Both matches went five sets, with the Vikings coming out on top each time. The Vikings won the fifth set against Southern Utah, 19-17 – the longest fifth set the Vikings have played since they lost a 19-17 fifth set against Idaho State on Sept. 22, 2005. The Vikings also won the first set, 33-31, against Southern Utah – the longest regular set the Vikings have played since Oct. 24, 2015, when they won 34-32 in the third set of an eventual 3-1 win over Montana State.
 
Southern Utah snapped a five-match losing streak with a 3-2 road win over Idaho State last Saturday. Only one of the Thunderbirds' five recent losses came at home, however, where the Thunderbirds are 5-3 this season. The Thunderbirds' offense, which had been a strength for Southern Utah, had a tough stretch during the Thunderbirds' losing streak. The Thunderbirds hit .084 against Northern Colorado on Oct. 26, and was at or below .150 in two of their other losses in the stretch. 
 
Overall, the Thunderbirds rank third in the Big Sky in kills per set (12.44), fourth in assists per set (11.60) and service aces per set (1.47), and fifth in hitting percentage (.211).
 
Individually, Shannon Webb leads the Thunderbirds and ranks second in the Big Sky with 3.70 kills per set. Stacey Hone also ranks in the top 10 of the Big Sky for kills per set, coming in seventh with 3.11. Katie Montgomery ranks sixth in the Big Sky with a .304 hitting percentage, and ranks third on the team with 1.90 kills per set. Sophomore setter Corrin Peterson ranks third in the Big Sky with 10.04 assists per set, while she and Montgomery rank fifth and eighth, respectively, with 0.36 and 0.32 aces per set.
 
Northern Arizona's recent results are almost the exact reverse of Southern Utah's. The Lumberjacks had been on a four-match winning streak before losing in three sets at Weber State last Saturday.
 
The Vikings handed the Lumberjacks their first Big Sky loss this season while beating them in five sets at Viking Pavilion on Oct. 3. That sparked a run of four losses in five matches for NAU, which ended when the Lumberjacks began their four-match winning streak with a 3-1 victory over Eastern Washington on Oct. 19.
 
The Lumberjacks rank third in the Big Sky in hitting percentage (.229), opponent hitting percentage (.186), assists per set (11.65), service aces per set (1.55) and digs per set (16.73), and rank fourth in the conference with 12.43 kills per set.
 
Individually, Heaven Harris is one of only two players in the Big Sky who rank in the top 10 of the conference for both kills per set (8th, 3.10) and hitting percentage (4th, .322). Abby Akin leads the Big Sky with a .419 hitting percentage, and ranks second on the team with 2.77 kills per set. Three other players average more than two kills per set in Taylor Jacobsen (2.59), Olivia Turner (2.29) and Ryann Davis (2.05).
 
Akin also ranks second in the Big Sky with 1.22 blocks per set, while Aubrea Bandfield ranks sixth with 0.33 service aces per set. Two different Lumberjacks rank in the top 10 of the Big Sky for digs per set, as Jasmine West and Sydney Lema rank third and eighth, respectively, at 4.67 and 3.76.
 
The Vikings open the weekend at Southern Utah, who they face at 6:30 p.m. (MT) Thursday at America First Events Center in Cedar City, Utah.
 
MATCH NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (9-14, 5-7) vs. SOUTHERN UTAH (12-12, 5-7)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m. (MT) in Cedar City, Utah (America First Events Center)
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH: The Southern Utah Thunderbirds snapped a five-match losing streak with a 3-2 road win over Idaho State last Saturday. Only one of those five recent losses came at home, however, where the Thunderbirds are 5-3 this season. The Thunderbirds' offense, which had been a strength for Southern Utah, had a tough stretch during the Thunderbirds' losing streak. The Thunderbirds hit .084 against Northern Colorado on Oct. 26, and was at or below .150 in two of their other losses in the stretch. Overall, the Thunderbirds rank third in the Big Sky in kills per set (12.44), fourth in assists per set (11.60) and service aces per set (1.47), and fifth in hitting percentage (.211). Individually, Shannon Webb leads the Thunderbirds and ranks second in the Big Sky with 3.70 kills per set. Stacey Hone also ranks in the top 10 of the Big Sky for kills per set, coming in seventh with 3.11. Katie Montgomery ranks sixth in the Big Sky with a .304 hitting percentage, and ranks third on the team with 1.90 kills per set. Sophomore setter Corrin Peterson ranks third in the Big Sky with 10.04 assists per set, while she and Montgomery rank fifth and eighth, respectively, with 0.36 and 0.32 aces per set. Hone led the Thunderbirds with 18 kills in the Thunderbirds' five-set loss to the Vikings on Oct. 5 earlier this season. Webb followed Hone with 17 kills to go with 18 digs, while Thea Leiataua and Sarah Gasper finished with 33 and 20 digs, respectively. Both teams recorded 100 digs or more in the match. 
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Vikings lead the all-time series between them and the Thunderbirds, 12-3. The Vikings have won seven of their last eight against the Thunderbirds, including a five-set win at Viking Pavilion on Oct. 5 earlier this season. The Vikings are 6-1 in away matches against Southern Utah, with their only loss in Cedar City coming on Sept. 27, 2014.
 
MATCH NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (9-14, 5-7) vs. NORTHERN ARIZONA (14-10, 7-5)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Saturday, Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m. (MT) in Flagstaff, Ariz. (Joseph C. Rolle Activity Center)
SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA: The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks had won four matches in a row before losing in three sets at Weber State last Saturday. The Vikings handed the Lumberjacks their first Big Sky loss this season while beating them in five sets at Viking Pavilion on Oct. 3. That sparked a run of four losses in five matches for NAU, which ended when the Lumberjacks began their four-match winning streak with a 3-1 victory over Eastern Washington on Oct. 19. The Lumberjacks, last season's Big Sky tournament champions, rank near the top of the Big Sky in most statistical categories. The Lumberjacks rank third in the Big Sky in hitting percentage (.229), opponent hitting percentage (.186), assists per set (11.65), service aces per set (1.55) and digs per set (16.73), and rank fourth in the conference with 12.43 kills per set. Individually, Heaven Harris is one of only two players in the Big Sky who rank in the top 10 of the conference for both kills per set (8th, 3.10) and hitting percentage (4th, .322). Abby Akin leads the Big Sky with a .419 hitting percentage, and ranks second on the team with 2.77 kills per set. Three other players average more than two kills per set in Taylor Jacobsen (2.59), Olivia Turner (2.29) and Ryann Davis (2.05). Abby Stomp and Aubrea Bandfield both set for the Lumberjacks, and average 6.09 and 4.15 assists per set, respectively. Akin also ranks second in the Big Sky with 1.22 blocks per set, while Bandfield ranks sixth with 0.33 service aces per set. Two different Lumberjacks rank in the top 10 of the Big Sky for digs per set, as Jasmine West and Sydney Lema rank third and eighth, respectively, at 4.67 and 3.76.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Lumberjacks lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 28-21, as well as the Big Sky series, 27-20. The Vikings won only their second match in their past 13 against NAU in a 3-2 thriller at Viking Pavilion on Oct. 3 earlier this season. The Lumberjacks are 5-7 away from home against the Lumberjacks, and haven't won in Flagstaff since Nov. 5, 2011.
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS
• The Vikings split their weekend series against Eastern Washington and Idaho, beating the Eagles 3-1 before falling by the same score to Idaho.
• The Vikings are just 1-5 in Big Sky play on the road this season.
• The Vikings have played six five-set matches already this season, more than they've had in any season since playing six in 2012. The school record for five-set matches came in 2010, when the Vikings played 11 five-setters.
• Freshman libero Ellie Snook leads the Big Sky with 6.15 digs per set in conference matches. Snook stands as the top-ranked freshman in the nation with 5.44 digs per set in all matches, an average that also ranks her second in the Big Sky and 12th in the nation. Additionally, Snook's average would break the Big Sky-era single-season school record if the season ended today. Kasimira Clark set the current school record with an average of 5.38 digs per set in 2012.
• The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 29th in the nation with 16.98 digs per set as a team. The Vikings have gone into triple figures in two different matches this season, recording 105 digs against Idaho State on Oct. 12, and 100 digs against Southern Utah on Oct. 5. Before this season, the Vikings hadn't recorded 100 or more digs in a match since Oct. 29, 2016.
• Senior outside hitter Toni McDougald ranks ninth in the Big Sky with 3.43 kills per set in conference matches, and ranks 10th overall with 3.02 kills per set in all matches this season. McDougald has recorded 10 or more kills in 12 of the Vikings' past 15 matches, and has seven double-doubles this season.
• Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Parker Webb has six double-doubles in the Vikings' past 10 matches, and has recorded 10 or more kills in 13 of the Vikings' past 17 matches. Webb ranks second to McDougald with 2.94 kills per set, and ranks fourth on the team with 2.28 digs per set.
• Freshman Caroline Dragani has three double-doubles in the Vikings' past four matches, and was a dig away from another in the other match in that stretch. Dragani recorded double-doubles in both matches last weekend, finishing with 32 assists and 11 digs against Eastern Washington last Thursday, and 39 assists and 12 digs against Idaho last Saturday. For the season, Dragani is the top-ranked freshman in the Big Sky with 8.24 assists per set. Dragani also ranks third on the team with 2.33 digs per set, and is averaging 3.00 digs per set in the past four matches.
• Freshmen middle blockers Julia Haynie and Riley Daniel started at the Vikings' two middle blocker positions in each match last weekend. The pair led the Vikings to their best blocking performance in Big Sky play against Eastern Washington on Thursday. The Vikings recorded 15 blocks in that match, their most against a Big Sky opponent this season, while Haynie recorded a career-high 10 blocks individually.
 
FIT FOR FIVE
The Vikings have played six five-set matches so far this season, and are 3-3 when the match goes the distance. The Vikings haven't played that many five-setters since 2012, when they also played six. The Vikings played seven five-setters in 2011, and set the school record for five-set matches with 11 in 2010.
 
WE'RE HOOKED ON ELLIE SNOOK
Freshman libero Ellie Snook leads the Big Sky with 6.15 digs per set in conference matches, putting her ahead of Montana State senior Allyssa Rizzo, who averages 5.98 digs per set against Big Sky opponents. Rizzo leads the conference with 5.99 digs per set in all matches, while Snook ranks second to her with 5.44. Snook stands as the top-ranked freshman in the nation for digs per set this season, and also ranks 12th overall. Additionally, Snook's 5.44 digs per set would break the single-season school record during the program's Big Sky era if the season ended today. Kasimira Clark set the current school record with an average of 5.38 digs per set in 2012. Clark's and Snook's names are already next to each other in the PSU record books, after Snook recorded the most digs in a match since Clark, when she had 39 against Southern Utah on Oct. 5. That was the third-most digs ever by a Viking in a match, behind only Clark's 41 digs against Sacramento State on Sept. 15, 2012, and Sarah Sirianni's 43 digs against Idaho State on Sept. 22, 2005.
 
DEFENSE RETURNING TO PARK BLOCKS
Typically a strength under head coach Michael Seemann, the Viking defense has made a return to the Park Blocks after a down year in 2018. The Vikings recorded 105 digs as a team against Idaho State on Oct. 12, the second time this season they've gone into triple figures for digs after not having done so since Oct. 29, 2016. The Vikings also recorded 15 blocks against Eastern Washington last Thursday, the most blocks they've had against a Big Sky opponent this season. Overall, the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky in digs per set (16.98), fourth in blocks per set (2.19) and sixth in opponent hitting percentage (.194).
 
TONI MCDOUGALD, SHEEEEEEE'S GREAT!
Senior outside hitter Toni McDougald played in only one set against Idaho last Saturday, but had recorded 10 or more kills in 12 of the Vikings' 14 matches before that. McDougald averages 3.43 kills per set in Big Sky play this season, ranking her ninth in the conference. Overall, McDougald currently sports career-best averages for kills per set (3.02 in all matches) and digs per set (2.26) as a senior. McDougald's passing has been the biggest jump as a senior, as her 2.26 digs per set are more than a full dig higher than her previous best average in a season for Portland State. McDougald's previous best came as a junior, when she averaged 1.23 digs per set for the Vikings.
 
PETER PARKER, PARKER WEBB, THERE'S A SPIDER-MAN JOKE IN THERE SOMEWHERE
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Parker Webb has six double-doubles in the Vikings' past 10 matches, and has recorded 10 or more kills in all but seven matches this season. Webb has been even better in defense recently, as she's recorded 10 or more digs in nine of the past 13 matches. Webb recorded a career-high 18 digs in the Vikings' 3-1 win over Montana State on Oct. 24, while also adding 15 kills on .300 hitting in the match. Overall, Webb ranks second to Toni McDougald on the team with 2.94 kills per set while also ranking fourth on the team with 2.28 digs per set.
 
CAROLINE DRAGANI, FIERCE AS DAENERYS' DROGON
Freshman Caroline Dragani has three double-doubles in the Vikings' past four matches, and was a dig away from another in the other match in that stretch. Dragani recorded double-doubles in both matches last weekend, finishing with 32 assists and 11 digs against Eastern Washington last Thursday, and 39 assists and 12 digs against Idaho last Saturday. For the season, Dragani is the top-ranked freshman in the Big Sky with 8.24 assists per set. Dragani also ranks third on the team with 2.33 digs per set, and is averaging 3.00 digs per set in the past four matches.
 
POWELL'S A GOOD NAME IN PORTLAND
Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Powell recorded her first double-double since Oct. 5 with 13 kills and 20 digs in the Vikings' match against Idaho last Saturday. Powell has eight double-doubles this season, tying her with Caroline Dragani and Parker Webb for the team lead. Powell nearly had two 20-20 matches against Northern Arizona and Southern Utah on Oct. 3 and Oct. 5, respectively. Powell totaled 19 kills and 26 digs against Northern Arizona, then followed with 18 kills and 24 digs against Southern Utah. Powell's 26 digs against NAU marked the most digs by an outside hitter since Megan Ellis and Cheyne Corrado had 30 and 27 digs, respectively, against UC Irvine on Sept. 10, 2011. For the season, Powell ranks third on the team in kills per set (2.52) and second in digs per set (3.05).
 
SEVEN FRESHMEN, EIGHT NEWCOMERS
The Vikings may face some growing pains early in the season, as they try to integrate eight newcomers to the team, including seven freshmen. The Vikings returned only four letterwinners from their 2018 team, including only two starters in senior outside hitter Toni McDougald and junior setter Maddy Reeb. Senior setter Mary Jo McBride and redshirt sophomore outside hitter Parker Webb also returned. Because of that, the Vikings will use youth at every position during the season, especially at libero, where the Vikings are guaranteed to start a first-year player in either Ellie Snook or Kylie Komo. The Vikings also have nothing but newcomers at middle blocker, while freshman Caroline Dragani started the Vikings' first three matches of the season at setter.
 
MICHAEL SEEMANN IN 200-WIN CLUB
Portland State head coach Michael Seemann earned his 200th career win at Portland State in the Vikings' season opener last season. With the win, Seemann became the third coach in the history of the Viking volleyball program to reach 200 wins, joining Marlene Piper (445 wins; 1969-72 & 1974-83) and Jeff Mozzochi (371 wins; 1984-92 & 2001-06). Teri Mariani, who coached the Viking softball team from 1977-2005, owns the most wins of any Viking head coach with 663 victories in her tenure. Two baseball coaches – Jack Dunn (1975-94) and Roy Love (1962-74) – also reached the 200-win plateau with 630 and 257 wins, respectively.
 

Most Coaching Wins at Portland State (All Sports)
Coach	Wins	Sport	Years
Teri Mariani	663	Softball	1977-2005
Jack Dunn	630	Baseball	1975-94
Marlene Piper	445	Volleyball	1969-72, 1974-83
Jeff Mozzochi	371	Volleyball	1984-92, 2001-06
Roy Love	257	Baseball	1962-74
Michael Seemann	213	Volleyball	2007-Present

 











  

Most Coaching Wins at Portland State (Volleyball)
Coach	Wins	Sport	Years
Marlene Piper	445	Volleyball	1969-72, 1974-83
Jeff Mozzochi	371	Volleyball	1984-92, 2001-06
Michael Seemann	213	Volleyball	2007-Present